Francis Rowe

US Patent:

6606165, Aug 12, 2003

Filed:

Jan 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/227657

Inventors:

Michael W. Barry - Duluth GA
Jack N. Bartholmae - Duluth GA
Francis A. Rowe - Duluth GA
E. Neal Tompkins - Atlanta GA
Peter A. Zuber - Norcross GA

Assignee:

T/R Systems, Inc. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G06F 1500

US Classification:

358 19, 358530, 358 113, 358 115, 358296, 358409

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for routing page data of a print job to the printers in a multi-print engine based on print job parameters associated with the page data of the print job is disclosed. One or more virtual printers are configured, each with a plurality of individual print engines, each having associated printing characteristics. Page data of the print job, downloaded from a print file and having the print job parameters associated therewith, is rasterized and stored as bit-mapped images in print buffers associated with the multi-engined printing system. The bit-mapped images are distributed to select ones of the print engines based upon matching the print job parameters of each bit-mapped images with the printing characteristics of the print engine to be selected.

US Patent:

6633396, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

Aug 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/941331

Inventors:

Michael W. Barry - Duluth GA
Jack N. Bartholmae - Duluth GA
Francis A. Rowe - Duluth GA
E. Neal Tompkins - Atlanta GA
Peter A. Zuber - Norcross GA

Assignee:

T/R Systems, Inc. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G06F 1500

US Classification:

358 114, 358 115, 358409, 358 113, 358515, 358296, 358 19

Abstract:

A multiple print engine configuration allows a plurality of workstations ( ) to create individual print jobs and then transfer them to a distributing processor ( ). The distributing processor ( ) is operable to spool the jobs in a print spooler ( ) and then perform a software RIP on the print jobs. The RIP process divides the jobs into multiple individual jobs which are stored in the page buffer ( ). An image task manager ( ) in conjunction with an engine manager ( ) are then operable to selectively distribute the pages to multiple print engines ( ). They are distributed in such a manner that they are placed in the output bins ( ) in the order that the pages were received in the print jobs.

US Patent:

6657741, Dec 2, 2003

Filed:

Aug 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

08/511641

Inventors:

Michael W. Barry - Duluth GA
Francis A. Rowe - Duluth GA
E. Neal Tompkins - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

TR Systems, Inc. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G06F 1500

US Classification:

358 115, 358 113

Abstract:

A multiple print engine configuration allows a plurality of workstations ( ) to create individual print jobs and then transfer them to a distributing processor ( ). The distributing processor ( ) is operable to spool the jobs in a print spooler ( ) and then perform a software RIP on the print jobs. The RIP process divides the jobs into multiple individual jobs which are stored in the page buffer ( ). An image task manager ( ) in conjunction with an engine manager ( ) are then operable to selectively distribute the pages to multiple print engines ( ). They are distributed in such a manner that they are placed in the output bins ( ) in the order that the pages were received in the print jobs.

US Patent:

6707563, Mar 16, 2004

Filed:

Jan 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/484538

Inventors:

Michael W. Barry - Duluth GA
Jack N. Bartholmae - Duluth GA
Francis A. Rowe - Duluth GA
E. Neal Tompkins - Atlanta GA
Peter A. Zuber - Norcross GA

Assignee:

T/R Systems - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G06F 1500

US Classification:

358 114, 358 115

Abstract:

A multiple print engine configuration allows a plurality of workstations ( ) to create individual print jobs and then transfer them to a distributing processor ( ). The distributing processor ( ) is operable to spool the jobs in a print spooler ( ) and then perform a software RIP on the print jobs. The RIP process divides the jobs into multiple individual jobs which are stored in the page buffer ( ). An image task manager ( ) in conjunction with an engine manager ( ) are then operable to selectively distribute the pages to multiple print engines ( ). They are distributed in such a manner that they are placed in the output bins ( ) in the order that the pages were received in the print jobs.

US Patent:

6850335, Feb 1, 2005

Filed:

Jan 11, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/228872

Inventors:

Michael W. Barry - Duluth GA, US
Jack N. Bartholmae - Duluth GA, US
Francis A. Rowe - Duluth GA, US
E. Neal Tompkins - Atlanta GA, US
Peter A. Zuber - Norcross GA, US

Assignee:

Electronics for Imaging, Inc. - Forster City CA

International Classification:

G06F 1500

US Classification:

358 115, 358 113

Abstract:

A multiple print engine is provided wherein a plurality of print engines are configured as a single virtual print engine. A software RIP engine is provided for receiving a print job, ripping that print job to provide a rasterized image, which rasterized image is parsed into a plurality of pages. Each of the pages has associated therewith information as to the printing characteristics for that page. Each of the print engines also has associated therewith printing parameters. A job distributor is provided for selectively distributing the rasterized pages to engines based upon their associated print characteristics.

US Patent:

6888644, May 3, 2005

Filed:

May 3, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/848456

Inventors:

Michael W. Barry - Duluth GA, US
Jack N. Bartholmae - Duluth GA, US
Francis A. Rowe - Duluth GA, US
E. Neal Tompkins - Atlanta GA, US
Peter A. Zuber - Norcross GA, US

Assignee:

Electronics for Imaging, Inc. - Foster City CA

International Classification:

G06F015/00

US Classification:

358 115, 358 11, 358 15, 358296, 347 3, 347 7

Abstract:

A method for determining the amount of toner required to render a print job using a print engine at a printing location without prior information about the toner level thereof, comprising the steps of accumulating in a first register the toner values of all the pixels in a rasterized image prior to sending the print job to the printing location; decrementing the toner level register for the print engine at the printing location if the accumulated value is less than or equal to the toner level of the print engine; and sending the print job to the print engine at the printing location for rendering.

US Patent:

6977752, Dec 20, 2005

Filed:

Mar 19, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/044539

Inventors:

Michael W. Barry - Duluth GA, US
Jack N. Bartholmae - Duluth GA, US
Francis A. Rowe - Duluth GA, US
E. Neal Tompkins - Atlanta GA, US
Peter A. Zuber - Norcross GA, US

Assignee:

Electronics for Imaging, Inc. - Foster City CA

International Classification:

G06F015/00

US Classification:

358 19, 358296, 347 3, 347 5

Abstract:

The toner in the toner cartridge is determined by taking each of the rasterized images output by the RIP and evaluating the pixel levels over the surface thereof. The average value is determined as a percentage of the maximum toner that can be applied to the page. This is then subtracted from a toner value and a remaining toner level determined. Further, all pages of the rasterized document can be evaluated to predetermine the toner level after printing. If this falls below a predetermined minimum, printing is inhibited for that document.

US Patent:

7046391, May 16, 2006

Filed:

Jan 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/227251

Inventors:

Michael W. Barry - Duluth GA, US
Jack N. Bartholmae - Duluth GA, US
Francis A. Rowe - Duluth GA, US
E. Neal Tompkins - Atlanta GA, US
Peter A. Zuber - Norcross GA, US

Assignee:

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. - Foster City CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/00

US Classification:

358 19, 358515, 358518

Abstract:

A method and apparatus is disclosed for color balancing page data, from a variety of input sources having non-consistent device color profiles, among a plurality of individually accessible print engines arranged in a system for color printing multiple copies of multiple page documents. Input page data is converted to a common color space, rasterized and routed to a selected print engine. Page data routed to each marking engine is color balanced to the selected marking engine where at least a portion of the color balancing occurs following the rasterizing of the page data.